Maj. Gen. Pacifique Ntawunguka, the notorious overall commander of the FDLR’s military wing, Forces Combattantes Abacunguzi (FOCA), has reportedly been killed in the ongoing war in eastern DR Congo. Known by aliases including Omega and Israel, Ntawunguka had been a central figure in the genocidal militia, which collaborates with the Congolese national army (FARDC) to fight M23 rebels.
Ntawunguka, born in 1964 in the former Gisenyi region (now Rubavu District), had evaded capture since 2019 following the death of his predecessor, Sylvestre Mudacumura. Mudacumura was an uncompromising genocidaire infamous for his role in the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
Ntawunguka served as a lieutenant in the former Rwandan Armed Forces (ex-FAR), the military responsible for orchestrating the 1994 genocide, which claimed over a million lives. After the genocide, he fled with millions of others to DR Congo, then known as Zaire, where he rose through the ranks of the FDLR—a group intent on continuing its extremist anti-Tutsi agenda.
Throughout his tenure, Ntawunguka was known for his deep-rooted hatred of Tutsis and his efforts to use his militia to further a genocidal ideology. Despite his violent activities, his family members have reportedly lived peacefully in Rwanda, a stark contrast to his extremist pursuits.
The FDLR’s Role in the Eastern DR Congo Crisis
The FDLR has long found refuge in DR Congo, where the group has been emboldened by support from the Congolese government. The group’s military wing, FOCA, has been used by the FARDC in joint operations against the M23 rebels. The M23 coalition, now part of the broader AFC/M23 alliance, emerged as a Congolese rebel group to protect its community from persecution, including from genocidal militias like the FDLR.
A mid-2024 report by the UN Group of Experts revealed that the Congolese government has provided significant financial and logistical support to the FDLR, enabling the group to regroup and strengthen its foothold in the region.
Ntawunguka’s death leaves a leadership vacuum in the FDLR, though the group still boasts key figures in its ranks. Among them is Gen. Victor Byiringiro, also known as Rumuri or Rumuli, who has been involved in high-level operations. Another prominent figure is Maj. Gen. Cyprien Uzabakiriko, alias Ave Maria or Mugisha Kolomboka, who heads the FDLR-FOCA’s intelligence wing.
It remains unclear who will succeed Ntawunguka as the overall commander of FOCA.
The FDLR’s existence and operations in DR Congo have perpetuated instability in the region for decades, with its leaders harboring extremist views and a genocidal agenda. The group’s collaboration with the Congolese government in military operations against M23 highlights the complex dynamics of the ongoing conflict in eastern DR Congo, where alliances often blur the lines between state and non-state actors.
As the conflict rages on, the elimination of key figures like Ntawunguka raises questions about the future trajectory of the FDLR and its ability to continue pursuing its extremist goals in the region.
